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.

BOYNEXTDOOR don’t necessarily have a big enough discography to pluck many buried treasures from, and their specific performance style can get stretched a bit thin over the course of an album. At its worst, the vocal inflections come across as hyper-affected and grating. But then we have a song like So Let’s Go See The Stars, which draws upon a much more natural sound to craft an album highlight that’s even stronger than its accompanying title track.

I’ve seen this song compared to everyone from DAY6 to TXT, and it definitely feels more chameleon-like than BOYNEXTDOOR’s usual fare. The guys are at their best when they sound like a mid-00’s indie rock act from the UK, which isn’t a description (or expectation!) I could give to many K-pop acts. Stars‘ shimmering synths and chugging beat paint a majestic backdrop that instantly sets tone. The melody largely follows suit, drawing on the expressive power of the instrumental to craft a cinematic tune that’s both evocative and galvanizing. I especially love when the guitars become more prominent towards the end. The track could stand to become even bigger and more affecting, but this is a sonic direction that suits the group very well.

Grade: B