Most of the time, a kpop group’s title track is the best song on their album. But, sometimes b-sides deserve recognition, too. In the singles-oriented world of kpop, I want to spotlight some of these buried treasures and give them the props they deserve.

Astro’s music is consistently strong, whether we’re talking about title tracks or the songs that make up the rest of the albums. Lonely continues this streak, and could have easily served as their new single had they decided to move in a slightly different direction. The track is composed by Oreo and Youngbae, just like Confession. And while it retains the group’s ultra-pop sound, it coats it in a slightly more generic dance style.

Usually, “generic” is not a compliment, but Astro works wonders with the hyper-melodic EDM template of Lonely. I often think of them as the next B1A4, and this song reminds me of something that would have fit comfortably on that group’s earlier albums. The production is relatively straightforward, giving us a propulsive electronic beat, sprinkled throughout by fireworks of synth ornamentation. The real standout here is the melody, which has a wonderfully anthemic appeal with its extended, ascending notes that brilliantly spotlight the guys’ strong vocals. It’s one of those tears-on-the-dancefloor type songs — upbeat in nature, but with enough emotion bubbling under the surface to make it intriguing and multi-dimensional.  Its structure may be more straightforward than their singles, but a superb melody is a superb melody, and this one was built to last.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FR7fSlPDsI