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.

Last week, Just B quietly released one of the month’s strongest mini albums. Better yet, their members had a hand in almost every track besides the title. This results in a very cohesive string of tracks, most of them based in rock music but adding unique K-pop touches to the mix.

Drama opens the mini in ebullient fashion. It’s not the kind of song to draw immense attention to itself, but the production and melodies are solid as a rock. There’s a real sense of optimism to the arrangement, including bounding percussion and wisps of synth strings. This develops a snowballing energy that becomes more effusive as the track goes on. In a K-pop climate of constant tempo shifts and jarring structures, it’s nice to hear a song unfold gradually and lead to a satisfying climax. In Drama‘s case, this includes a welcome dose of saxophone (?) and a bravura power note that sends us into a finale worth waiting for. Other b-sides Paper Plane, Youth and Coming Home are just as good.

Grade: B+