Most of the time, a k-pop group’s title track is the best song on their album. But, 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 had a heck of a time deciding which track on AB6IX’s new album to feature as a buried treasure. It’s the type of album where every song is decent, but none are real standouts. This begs the question: what kind of album do you prefer? Would you rather have one or two knockout tracks surrounded by filler, or a bunch of 8/10 songs, one after another. Years ago, I probably would have opted for the latter choice, but now I think I’d go with the former. Killer tracks are really worth their weight in gold.

I don’t think Vivid is a killer track, but I do think it should have been the album’s title. I’m also partial to the stately synth in Surreal and the clobbering beat that highlights Hold Tight’s chorus. But, Vivid feels the most closely aligned with AB6IX’s previous singles, without coming off as a total rehash. It also better encapsulates the album’s concept than The Answer does.

While I would have upped the tempo a notch further, I appreciate the bright texture of Vivid’s splashy synths. They have a real summery appeal, even as the percussion echoes the deep house sound of the group’s past title tracks. The arrangement takes a streamlined approach, moving between melody and rap while remained taut and effective. Daehwi’s parts are by far the catchiest, though the whole track has a nice pep to it. The chorus may not reach the addictive heights of either Breathe or Blind For Love, but there are enough little hooks sprinkled throughout the song to compensate.

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