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.

This will be a weird “buried treasure” post because there’s going to be as much ranting as raving. If performed by a different group, NCT Wish’s Ode To Love would probably be my favorite album of the year. The songs (most of them, at least) are super solid and nod back to SM Entertainment sounds I love. However, longtime readers know my ears have an aversion to higher-pitched sounds (ie: my struggle with trap percussion) and it’s so hard for me to get past the arrangement of Wish’s vocals. I don’t even think it’s the fault of the guys themselves because when they sing solo they frequently sound quite good. However, the producers often stack their vocals together and — rather than create depth and harmony — it comes across as shrill, flat and compressed. I just can’t listen to these songs without imagining SHINee’s mighty blend — or even RIIZE, honestly.

Rant over. As pure pop songwriting, there’s plenty to love on this album. A handful of tracks stuck out to me, but the late album highlight Everglow keeps pulling me back. The vocal arrangement is particularly frustrating here, but if I force myself to get past that I’m thrilled by the bold electro-funk sound and dynamic structure. The chorus pulses with 2013-era SHINee bombast, which is one the highest compliments I can give to K-pop. This is the sound I want all over SM’s music, but I also want it full-bodied with a sense of depth and space. If Everglow were tangible like putty, I Iong to pull and stretch it out, removing the incessant compression and letting the music fully flourish.

Grade: B