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.

When ATEEZ move away from their “hype up the crowd” showpieces, they can still churn out a nice melodic synth banger. It’s remains a K-pop crime that 2021’s excellent Take Me Home was never promoted as a title track or follow-up single, and new song Silver Light is likely to suffer the same fate.

Now… Silver Light is no Take Me Home. It feels more like its kid brother, playing in the same sonic sandbox without the breathless build and knockout melodies of its predecessor. However, this surging, synth-driven sound fits so well with ATEEZ’s vocals. It softens the textures of their voices while simultaneously teasing out the charms of their performance style. I love the crystalline tones that support Silver Light‘s chorus. They make a great counterpoint to the more forceful vocals.

A bigger sense of build and payoff would put Silver Light over the edge. We get a climactic power note, but the song itself doesn’t really support this sense of catharsis. It cycles around a series of pleasant — but understated — melodies that keep the energy pretty neutral throughout. That’s enough to make it an easy album highlight while making me long for a killer title track in this style.

Grade: B