Buried Treasure: NCT Wish – Melt Inside My Pocket

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.

Listening to NCT Wish’s new mini album, I’m even more confused why the irritating poppop was chosen as its title track. Any other song would have been a stronger choice, especially when you’ve got a track like Melt Inside My Pocket that brings together famed SM producers Kenzie and Andrew Choi.

On the NCT Wish continuum, this song exists closer to their edgier Songbird style. “Edgy” isn’t really a thing for Wish, so that’s all relative, but Pocket has a bit of grit that anchors it in a better place than their more saccharine material. More importantly, the track finds a way to include SM’s patented wall-of-sound vocals during the chorus. It’s so refreshing to hear the guys sing instead of shout, and this catchy hook fuels Pocket in a satisfying way. Meanwhile, the production offers a dynamic blend of rugged synths and more propulsive rhythms that give the chorus a sense of drive. It’s much more interesting and definitely more palatable than poppop and paints a stronger musical image going forward for NCT Wish.

Grade: B