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’ll open this buried treasure post by quoting myself from Twitter/X this week:

“If K-pop trends go the way I think they will (2nd/3rd gen revivalism), the most successful acts will be those who can expand upon these sounds rather than simply replicate them. When I say I miss older generations of K-pop (which I say often!), I don’t mean I want artists to retread those exact songs. I want the scale, ambition, concept and melodic heft from those eras to inform new work that pushes things forward.”

This was largely in response to JUSTB’s newest EP, which despite its hyperpop edge feels like a loving replication. The guys lovingly capture a few specific 2nd-gen sounds that feel ripped right from that era. The music doesn’t push much further than that, but it’s a fun novelty.

My favorite track is the one that hinges most on melody. Narrow Gate (좁은문) closes the album and brings the kind of boy group longing we don’t hear too much anymore. Opening with a catchy synthline, the song quickly unveils its well-constructed verses that deliver plenty of movement and tension. From here, we hit a chorus that would have fit perfectly on Bigbang’s 2012 Alive album. It’s immensely nostalgic… and that’s kind of where it begins and ends. However, nostalgia was always the intention behind this project so you can’t fault the guys for doing what they set out to do and doing it well. Consider this a mission success!

Grade: B