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.

I don’t often enjoy i-dle’s title tracks enough to give their albums much attention, but I’m happy when I take the plunge and discover something really great. To me, their music is at its best when it completely dispenses with the gimmicks and catchphrases to fully commit to a solid pop melody. Love Tease does this better than almost anything they’ve released.

From the sound of the EP, it feels like i-dle is beginning to dip their toes into K-pop’s second-gen sound. I’d be happy if this became a trend because there’s much the industry could learn from retracing its past glories. Love Tease is pretty slight (it feels like a b-side), but I love its general direction. The beat pulses with a fun electro thump and the melodies are catchy and repetitive but never cloying. We get a bit of predictable sing-talk toward the song’s finale, but everything that comes before that contributes to a satisfying arrangement that keeps the energy high and the vibes positive. An extra thirty seconds might have allowed for a great synth solo or dance breakdown, but expecting three minute songs in K-pop this year is only setting yourself up for disappointment.

Grade: B